The Intrepid Museum reopens

Bush will visit the Intrepid making a grand entry landing on the flight deck of the Intrepid, and then saying some words on Veterans Day.

Saturday I went to the opening of the Intrepid Museum where thousands turned out despite the rain. A retired battleship that has been renovated into a museum with interactive displays. There are hands on displays where you can play with some of the military’s devices, beds you can try out and a mash helicopter you can sit in. The Museum opening had a festive mood. There was a tug of war between the NYC firemen and a group of servicemen. The Firemen won twice in what became a best of three matches after the firemen easily one the first round. The only somber reminder of the cost of war in the museum is a display of the names of those killed when kamikazes attacked the ship. Three Hundred lives were lost.

New York has one of its’ tourist destinations back. A place one can get a history lesson and some macho adrenalin from the military hardware at the same time.

Halloween Parade in New York City

New York on Halloween had a festive energy this year every where I went. It was the 35th anniversary of New York City’s Halloween Parade and my first time attending. Over two million people came to see and/or participate. People in mass, took advantage of having a chance to cut loose. Click here and this link will take you to a set on flickr of more images I shot at the parade . The theme of the parade this year was ghosts. There were Santas, Batmen, witches, fairies, dominatrix and playboy bunnies. I also found a few mummies, who all used unique wrapping techniques to make their costumes. A couple wearing king and queen playing cards, where my favorite. I found them at the subway station on 8th Ave. and 14th Street, while waiting for the A train. I chatted with them on the train ride uptown. They told me they were gaint fish last year.

 My flash got a great work out, and I have a deeper perspective of what Halloween means to New Yorkers.

Obama - Harlem's icon of choice

Walking around Harlem I  found signs of Obama everywhere. 

McCain and Palin have conceded Harlem - no traces of advertising for them to be found anywhere. Obama has a great look to be plastered on product. Haven't seen any McCain t-shirts around but I'm sure they are out there somewhere.

Concern about having a maverick as president

My friend , the poet Ann McGarrell, wrote a letter to the editor of her local paper in Vermont about mavericks. It struck a chord with me so I looked through my archives and  have posted it with images I think illustrate her text well.

To the Valley News Forum:

As a reader whose childhood was spent in the American Southwest and whose father was a cattleman, I am alarmed at the possibility of a “maverick” president. In my experience, mavericks – wild unbranded cattle – are irredeemably ill-tempered feral creatures, so traumatized by life that they are dangerous to those around them. They are usually culled from the herd and end up as dog food.- Ann McGarrell

Wall Street crashes as bailout plan is voted down

Today at noon there was a rally near the stock exchange. Jesse Jackson spoke to a crowd of 500. He called for “More Roosevelt and Obama not Bush and McCain.” While the rally was going on, the market was crashing in what turned out to be the biggest drop of points in a single day. I got into the Stock Exchange and shot from the visitors’ observation deck before the final bell range. The mood didn’t seem particularity down, I think the brokers are getting used to things crashing.Outside I took pictures of the brokers as they left the building. The press treated the brokers the way paparazzi treat Paris Hilton. The brokers for the most part weren’t amused and some acted like perps I photographed when stopped by the National Guard. Anyone who was willing to speak was surrounded by cameras. TV crews anxious for information. Most expressed their surprise and disappointment that the house didn’t pass the bailout plan. What it means I’m not sure but after reading Naomi Klein’s Disaster Capitalism, I’m glad the warning Bush put out that bailout has to happen fast isn’t being heeded. I want the politicians voting to take time to understand what it is they are voting for or against before they act.

My work at the Field Museum in Chicago

The curators of "Nature Unleashed" kindly provided me with images of an installation of my work, that is part of their show currently on display at the Field Museum.

Nature Unleashed will be at the Field Museum in Chicago  until January 24 before traveling to six other museums over the coarse of the next two years. Four of my post-Katrina photos are included in the exhibition along with objects I rescued from homes set for demolition. The photos on display are of the objects insitu before I rescued them.

Early Morning on the Anniversary of Hurricane Katrina

New Orleans is on edge, as am I- waiting to see if Gustav will hit or not.
When I wake I will attend the Mayor’s ceremony Commemorating Katrina’s third anniversary.

Gustav’s path will be a little clearer when I rise, but where the storm will hit will still remain an uncertainty. The last days I have been riding along with the National Guard in New Orleans East, driving through areas of urban blight.

Earlier in the day I shot pictures of the new homes being built for Brad Pitt’s “Make it Right Project”. The promise that one would be ready to have someone move in by Katrina’s anniversary has not been kept, though a few of the homes are close to completion. All celebrations for that project including the opening of a playground have been put on hold since all attention is on Gustav and a possible mass evacuation.
Tonight is quiet. Today was picturesque. Hard to imagine a hurricane hitting, yet impossible to ignore the fact that New Orleans is right in the storm’s predicted path. I will be here rain or shine so check back for an update either way.
I created a book on the National Guard patrolling the streets of New Orleans that is now available from blurb. Also available is a book with photos of Post Katrina New Orleans with a poem by Ann McGarrell . It is possible to preview the first 15 pages of the books.

images from top to bottom -clown head in 6th flags in New Orleans East/ home near in lower 9th ward shot on August 28/ wheel chair outside of destroyed nursing home in New Orleans East/ Classroom in New Orleans East school/ Foundation of a home in the lower 9th ward across form "Make It Right Homes"/Kitchen in housing unit still standing in New Orleans East/ Nursing Home in New Orleans East/ Nursing Home hallway/ National Guard Clearing movie theater in New Orleans East/Moose head in Destroyed store left standing in New Orleans East/ One of Brad Pitt's "Make It Right" Homes nearly finished/ Park for "Make it Right" homes- opening delayed due to hurricane Gustav/ Black mold in housing unit / in New Orleans East/ Restaurant in New the lower 9th ward / Nature center path in New Orleans East/ Photos on the wall in nursing home in New Orleans East